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And ITV - which was in deep financial trouble only months ago - is celebrating scooping a cool £20million in advertising revenue in one of the biggest TV entertainment events for years.

Both X Factor and another hugely successful Simon Cowell vehicle - Britain's Got Talent - have put the channel back in the big time.

Simon Cowelll says he is considering moving the X Factor final to a larger venue - so winners like Joe McElderry could perform in front of an audience of thousands

However, there are doubts over hew fellow judge Dannii Minogue’s future on the programme.

Miss Minogue yesterday admitted her upset at being constantly moved to the end of the judging panel on the live shows and move seats with Louis Walsh.

She told Heat magazine: ‘I still have no idea why I was told to change seats. I was told four different reasons by four different people, who all said it was the other person's decision.’

She added: ‘I like watching people play ‘pass the buck’. I actually thought I might be judging from the side of the stage at one point.’

Speaking about the controversy surrounding the week her act Lucie lost out to Jedward, Miss Minogue said: ‘Next year, we need five judges and a fifth category, adding 'Novelty Act' which maybe Simon could mentor!"

An ITV source told the Mail: ‘There was a worrying moment when it looked like we would not have the X Factor back next year, but it's being sorted.

Changes to the show - such as live auditions and the new £1million stage - have helped to boost viewing figures

Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent, which has featured the likes of Susan Boyle, has helped to boost ITV's advertising revenue

‘The issue was whether Cowell would want to appear on the US version, and it looks like he does, so we will have to work out a time when it does not clash with the UK show.

‘I don't think the X Factor will now launch in the US until 2011.’

Speaking last week, Cowell had made it clear that ITV would have to pay much more for another series, saying: 'We're negotiating with the network and it's not about salaries for the people on it - it's how much money are you going to invest over a period of time.

'We always said we'd stop making the show when people don't want to
see it. But it's been very successful because ITV have invested a lot
into it to make it better.

'I think there is genuine interest
from the people behind the show to bring it back - but if we do, it
needs to be better than this year."

He said higher ratings that
followed changes to this year's format - including auditions in front
of an audience and building a flash £1million stage - proved that
people wanted bigger and better shows.

ITV spent £1.7million each weekend on the shows this series.

Cowell, who co-produces X Factor, is believed to want another £300,000 spent on ten shows next series.

He is also considering staging next year's final at a huge venue like the 02 in London or Wembley Arena.

Cowell is still negotiating his own £7.5million salary with ITV.

He
has got Topshop billionaire Philip Green, 57, to thrash out a deal. But
he has already agreed to judge Britain's Got Talent next year.